Sites for £50m city sporting overhaul revealed

DERBY'S biggest sports centre, Moorways, would be demolished and rebuilt and Oakwood would get its long-awaited swimming pool under ambitious £50m plans to revitalise leisure in the city.

The proposals would see an Olympic-sized pool in the city centre, and Gayton Pool, which families fought a 10-year battle to save, would play a major role.

The Derby Telegraph revealed news of the city council's plan to transform its sports facilities in December, but last night the scheme took a step forward when detailed proposals were presented to its cabinet.

The aim is to have two main sports "hubs" in the city – Moorways and the city centre pool – and four smaller centres, one at Gayton, and another at Oakwood's Springwood Leisure Centre, which would get a 25m, four-lane indoor pool, costing around £4m.

Lib Dem Oakwood councillor Frank Harwood said he was delighted Springwood leisure centre was a preferred option.

"This is something people in Oakwood have been asking for for a long time and it will be great if this leisure plan means it can finally happen," he said.

Chris Harrington, secretary of Gayton Community Association which fought to get the pool there rebuilt when the council wanted it demolished, said: "We fought because we felt it was a crucial part of the community. It is encouraging the council is considering making it one of the key centres in the city."

The two other "satellite" centres could be at schools, with Woodlands, Noel Baker and Sinfin in the running.

The proposals, drawn up by independent consultants PMPGenisis, identify Moorways for major development, becoming the site for a 250m indoor cycling velodrome providing Olympic-standard facilities, a 10 to 12-court sports hall, and 80m indoor athletics track, bar and cafe. The outdoor 400m track will be replaced.

The city centre Queen's Leisure Centre would be closed.

A site for the second hub, including an Olympic swimming pool, is not suggested but PMPGenisis said it should be within the city centre, close to public transport connections.

Springwood Leisure Centre is the preferred site for one of four "satellite" offices. It would service the east of the city while the suggestion for the west centre is the replacement Gayton Pool, at a cost of more than £1m. The north centre is proposed to be a refurbished site at Woodlands School and possible locations in the south for another 25m, four-lane pool with 40-station gym costing £4m include Noel Baker School and Sinfin School.

No definite sites will be chosen until after the council has consulted the public. Subject to consultation and permission, work could begin in 2011-12. The £50m for the schemes would come from long-term borrowing, paid back by taxpayers' money and grants from sporting organisations.

Funding that borrowing would cost the council an additional £2.75m a year from 2013 and £634,000 has already been worked into the proposed budget for 2011-2, increasing to £2.2m in 2012-3.

Councillor Joe Naitta, member for leisure and culture, said the costs could be justified as value for money, even in light of spending cuts at the authority.

"Our leisure centres are nearing the end of their lives and if we don't invest in our facilities we will find that a lot would not last that long."

The authority said refurbishing centres would cost it £18m, while remodelling them on existing sites would cost £37m.

Mr Naitta said: "Just like-for-like replacements would cost £37m, so for an extra £13m we would get an Olympic swimming pool which could be split into two 25m training pools and a velodrome which would put us on the cycling map."

The consultants' report suggests that the council phases in the changes, starting with the indoor swimming hub.

It states that Queen's Leisure Centre and the Moorways Leisure Centre should be kept open until the new site is working.

The outdoor hub with velodrome would be constructed at Moorways or an alternative site. Pride Park was another option – but that would require the council to buy land.

Once the velodrome was open, the new pool would be built in the south to make up for the loss of Moorways and the refurbishment of Gayton would continue. Later phases would see Woodlands School's pool refurbished, a pool added at Springwood and investment in the Shaftesbury Sports Centre, Normanton, with better access and changing rooms.

The proposal for the £50m vision was approved by the council's cabinet last night.